**8pm: And because no one else has mentioned this, or at least I have not read it, I just asked if Dustin Kohn has cleared waivers in order to be sent to Bridgeport and was told yes. However, the lack of interest shown by the organization in a young D that got so much positive press last season really surprised me. But then, they did shore it up over the summer. Here you go Jack. You get him back on your squad.
**4:02 pm: From Twitter and Kevin Allen at USAToday
kausatoday Montreal's Michael Cammalleri is suspended for the season opener for his slash on Nino Niederreiter. He'll forfeit $32,000-plus in pay.
While it would have been nice if a clear message was sent by the League, I understand why this is a single game suspension and the idea that it is the season opener is weighted more heavily. I'm happier with the money it will cost him. I wish they would also make them issue public apologies as well.
**12:26 pm: Um, correction from NYIslanders.com, that's THREE to 4 weeks he will be out. meaning, no chance he's coming back earlier. Also, Nino Niederreiter is being evaluated today for the injury to his calf. Anyone else getting flashbacks of the Titanic?
**
12:22 pm: As the NY Islanders could no longer keep the hounds at bay, they have announced what I had dreaded. Rob Schremp is slated to be out 2 - 4 weeks with a lower back strain.
At least we are not at the: "Upper Body injury" stage of the season yet.
*10:32 am: As reported by Chris Botta at the rink this morning, Rob Schremp remains out for the Islanders.
Those five veterans who were added on PTOs in order to fill out the (insane) split-squad rosters have been released today. (According to Newsday, looks like 4 more cuts will be made before Sat's game to get to a 23 man roster.)
Dean McAmmond, Jed Ortmeyer, Anders Eriksson, Manny Legace and Krys Kolanos, who all accepted invitations on PTO contracts for Training Camp, were all released from their agreements.
I'm surprised about Krys Kolanos not getting to stick around for a few more days and Dean McAmmond was someone I thought would be a help to the team. I wonder if those who made the trip on these PTOs were compensated in any way. Curious isn't it?
Forwards Justin DiBenedetto, Micheal Haley, Rob Hisey, Jesse Joensuu, Mark Katic, Tomas Marcinko, Rhett Rakhshani, David Ullstrom, and Jeremy Yablonski, along with defensemen Dylan Reese, Travis Hamonic and goaltender Mikko Koskinen have all been assigned to the Sound Tigers.
So Jack Capuano has an idea of what he will be working with now. As mentioned by all other outlets, Calvin DeHaan is sticking around this week as Scott Gordon and his coaching staff attempt to create a competitive team out of what is left.
Rob Schremp who was said to have back spasms (and required x-rays) did not make today's charity event at Adventureland. Understandable that if you have back spasms you don't want to be riding the Tea Cups (or the spin and puke as my husband calls them). However, if all he was doing was sitting at a table signing autographs, he did that at the team store in Hicksville a few days after having surgery on his knee. I suppose this week will tell the true story.
Nino remains with the club. Depending on whether or not that bruised calf suffered in yesterday's game in Quebec is really just a bruise, Nino could be part of the line up at the Home Opener on Saturday October 9th, which would be smart move and would count as game one of the nine game try-out window.
Not sure if anyone else noticed that Newsday was all over the Islanders today with the mini schedule pasted to the front page, the article by Mark Herrmann about the charity golf outing, the two page spread for the start of the season and the full page ad for the home opener.
Notice that all the artwork has had to be changed to remove Mark Streit who was obviuosly one of the biggest selling points of the team. Maybe they can put him back in the artwork for Valentines Day.
In very fine print in the full page ad at the very bottom of the page is the announcement that there will be an Open House on October 5th and if you are one of the first 500 to bring the ad into the Coliseum, you'll receive a free gift while you go over the available ticket plans with a sales person. The Islanders do this every year. I guess it works.
Lastly, yes there was quite the article today by Larry Brooks in the New York Post. While I understand his desire to explain and justify what the Rangers (the team he covers) have done in order to manage their cap and their players, it seems a little unfair of him to try to whip the Islander fans into a frenzy over how Garth Snow is managing the Islanders payroll. He seems to feel what the Islanders had to do in order to adhere to the letter of the CBA also violated "the spirit of the CBA."
It seemed to be an attempt to deflect negative attention from one team to another. I was asked today if I was "proud" of what the Islanders did yesterday in Quebec as they sent their B- team to a packed arena while the more familiar Islander names played in front of an announced crowd of 7700 (not a chance) at the Coliseum.
All I can say is that all along I didn't understand how they were going to pull off this bizarre schedule of split squad games. In my opinion, it was a really dumb idea.
So, if the Islanders are struggling to maintain the cap floor, I have a suggestion as to how they can stay above it. However, if I bring it up to the GM one more time I'm pretty sure I will get the same treatment Larry Brooks gets from the Rangers coach during post-games.
All that matters now is Saturday night, October 9th as the regular season begins.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»